Byzantine astrology is rather unknown among the general public. In fact, many people might be surprised to find out that Byzantine astrology even existed. It did, though, and it was wonderful!
Astrology was a natural component of Byzantium’s legacy because it was, in some ways, a continuation of the Hellenistic culture. Furthermore, the Byzantines shared a geographical proximity with the Persians and Arabs, who had also embraced and advanced Hellenistic astrology. As a result, Byzantium became an especially conducive environment for the spread of astrological concepts.
This region of the world gave birth to some of the most accomplished astrologers of that age. John Abramius, whose story I will tell you about in this article, was one of them. In addition to his astrological abilities, Abramius founded what may be referred to as a “tardive Byzantine astrological school”! Its influence was so strong that prominent people learned astrology there, including Cardinal Isidore of Kiev!
But first, let’s clarify the whereabouts and time of our protagonist. When Constantine relocated his empire’s capital from Rome to Constantinople in 330 CE, the Byzantine Empire was established. It matched the eastern region of the Roman Empire geographically. Officially, the empire started out as a Roman one but quickly “morphed” into Greek-Byzantine. Actually, even under the Roman occupation, that region of the world had remained largely Hellenistic.
Why is Byzantium no longer around? What happened to it? Well, the invading Turks conquered it and converted it into the country we now know as Turkey. The modern city of Istanbul stands where the legendary Constantinople once stood.
Let’s turn now to our protagonist, Abramius. Byzantium had been reduced to a shadow of its former self, by the time he was born (in the first half of the 14th century). His homeland had already suffered two devastating blows: the first cοming from the Seljuk Turks, who had invaded and occupied vast Byzantine territories in Anatolia. The second blow was dealt by the Franco-Latin Crusaders, who instead of seeking Jerusalem, oddly besieged Constantinople – and occupied it for nearly 60 years (1204- 1261 CE). As a result of these parallel invasions by Turkish and Franco-Latin armies, Byzantium fell to its knees.
Such massive invasions could have easily caused Byzantium’s demise! But it miraculously survived (partially, at least)! Not anymore as an empire, but rather as a relatively small and dignified kingdom! It morphed into an almost modern kingdom, less theocratic, more open to letters, sciences, and innovative ideas! In fact, historians call this specific era, in which Abramius lived, “the Palaeologan Renaissance”! A Renaissance that actually preceded the Italian one!
After centuries of neglect, astrology and astronomy were finally revived during this “golden” Palaeologan period (also due to Byzantines’ easy access to Islamic sources). A number of excellent astronomers and astrologers emerged then, including the polymaths Metochites and Gregoras. It was astrologers of such a caliber who trained Abramius.
JOHN ABRAMIUS, AN EMINENT BYZANTINE ASTROLOGER!
We know very little about the Greek – Byzantine astrologer John Abramius. It may have remained totally unknown had the great scholar David Pingree not brought his work to light.
From his writings, it is evident that Abramius was a highly skilled astrologer. Apparently, he was working for Prince Andronicus IV, who was exiled by King John V Palaeologus, his own father. We know that Abramius erected a “catarchic” horoscope, predicting the ideal moment for his master Andronicus to steal his father’s reign (we will examine that “catarchic” further on).
The prestigious position Abramius held – as well as his astrologer skills – soon made him the center of attention for an entire circle of people interested in astrology. This resulted in him having ever more students, who consequently imparted their “abramian” knowledge to their own students, etc. In time, a thriving “Palaeologan school of astrology” emerged.
One of Abramius’ key students was Eleutherius Elius (probably his assistanttoo). It is believed he is the author of an astrological compendium (containing Arabo-Hellenistic material) originally attributed to a non existent “Palchus”.
A number of other eminent students attended the school, among them Demetrius Chlorus, Dionysius, and John Chortasmenus. In fact, the latter had Cardinal Isidore of Kiev as his student.
Let us now examine the horoscope (a “catarchic”) that Abramius “elected”, so that his master Andronicus would enter Constantinople under good omen, in order to take over the throne from his father. The date proposed was August 12, 1376, at 9:30 a.m.
I will explain the components of this chart further on. Meanwhile, I am providing the following tables that will help you read this “catarchic” on your own, should you wish it.
THE BYZANTINE GLYPHS OF THE FOUR ANGLES
The Byzantines are most likely the ones who devised the astrological glyphs, most likely taking inspiration from alchemical symbols. In any case, the first people to consistently use astrological glyphs were the Byzantines.
In order to create the astrological glyphs of the four Angles of the horoscope, the Byzantines simply abbreviated the Greek names for each Angle, creating appropriate “calligraphic ligatures”.
Thus, the Byzantine glyph of the Ascendant comes from the corresponding Greek term: ωροσκόπος. You just have to select the very first two letters of the Greek term (ω and ρ) and then insert ρ into ω.
The Midheaven glyph comes from the corresponding Greek term: Μεσουράνημα (inserting ρ in Μ).
The glyph of Imum Coeli comes from the corresponding Greek term υπόΓειον (basement), by placing π and Γ above υ.
The glyph of the Descendant derives from the corresponding Greek term Δύνων (the relative Greek letters are clearly visible in the glyph).
THE BYZANTINE GLYPHS FOR THE PLANETS AND SIGNS
Four of the planetary glyphs used by Abramius are quite unrecognizable today:
• The Byzantine glyph of the Sun, which is represented by a “cone”
• The Byzantine glyph of Venus is the same as ours, except for an occasional “feeler” on its upper left part
• The glyph of Mars is a ligature of Mars’ Greek name αρης
• The glyph of Jupiter is a ligature of Jupiter’s Greek name ζευς
Almost all of the Byzantine glyphs of the signs can be recognized today, by a modern astrologer, with the exception of two:
• The glyph of Taurus is a ligature of the corresponding Greek word ταύρος
• The glyph of Capricorn appears to be a ligature of the corresponding Greek word αιγόκερως
Here is the transliteration in English of this Abramius’ catarchic, for the Andronicus entry in Constantinople (in the Byzantine year 6884 = 1376 AD. According to the Byzantines, the world was created in the year 5509 before Christ, on September 1st):
The same chart, plotted by the SolarFire 9 software:
Abramius wrote in the horoscope’s description: “On August 12th, 6884, three and a half hours after sunrise, Emperor Andronicus Paleologus entered Constantinople and seized imperial power.”
The original handwriting interpretation of Abramius and its corresponding interpretation in English are shown below:
“The Lot of Kingship is in a bad place, the 8th, the lord of its triplicity, namely Venus, is in a good place, the Midheaven; this indicates that the emperor will get back on his feet from some pain and misery (or cowardice) and will be more manly. And since both lords of the triplicity of the Lot of Kingship, namely Venus and the Moon, are in a good place, at the Midheaven, and moreover Venus rises in the East, it indicates that there will be happiness and victory for the emperor, except that, since Jupiter is in the twelfth place, it indicates that the emperor will have some moderate sorrow and that there will be some irregularity in the imperial affairs. Since the Midheaven is in the terms of a benefic planet, Jupiter, it means a good outcome.”
PECULIARITIES OF THE ABRAMIUS’ TECHNIQUE
• He is using the “Original Porphyry” house system. There is a 5 degrees “pre-span” to the Ascendant and MC. All house cusps have been moved back in the zodiac by 5 degrees.
• He mostly relies on Hellenistic sources. He is calculating the Lot of Kingship using Heliodorus’ (Olympiodorus?) ancient formula
• He does not adhere to a single “Terms” system
• The North Lunar Node is intentionally (?) placed in the auspicious Fifth “Place” (of Good Fortune), despite standing in the Fourth.
• He provides some quite accurate positions for the planets and the house cusps
THE “ORIGINAL PORPHYRY” HOUSE SYSTEM (5 DEGREES PRE-SPAN)
Abramius ignores the house systems favored by the Islamist astrologers of that time. He relies instead on an authentic Hellenistic system: the “Original Porphyry”! In it, the Ascendant and MC don’t line up with the respective house cusps (a 5 degrees “pre-span” is separating them). All the house cusps have been moved back in the zodiac, by exactly 5 degrees!
Apparently, it was Ptolemy who first proposed the concept of the “5 degrees pre-span”. As he states in “Tetrabiblos”, concerning the “aphetic places” (“αφετικούς τόπους”):
“Firstly, we must consider those places prorogative, in which by all means the planet must be that is to receive the lordship of the prorogation; namely, the twelfth part of the zodiac surrounding the horoscope, from 5° above the actual horizon up to the 25° that remains, which is rising in succession to the horizon;”
(“Tetrabiblos” book 3, chapter 10, paragraph 3)
THE ELIODORUS (OLIMPIODORUS?) LOT OF KINGSHIP FORMULA
Abramius uses a rather unusual formula to calculate the Lot of Kingship (in his catarchic of Andronicus IV’s entry into Constantinople). It does not resemble the corresponding formulas used by the Islamist astrologers of that era. In some Islamic manuscripts, however, that formula appears to have survived – such as in Al Biruni’s – but it had apparently fallen out of use.
In contrast, Abramius refers directly to a book by the Hellenistic astrologer Heliodorus (probably the misspelled name of the famous 11 astrologer Olympiodorus), containing commentaries on Paul Alexandrinus’ work. You may read below the relative excerpt in Greek:
“The Lot of Kingship is calculated by adding the longitudinal difference between the Sun and the Moon to the degrees of the Midheaven.”
(“Heliodori, ut dicitur, in Paulum Alexandrinum Commentarium” 22.16 E. Boer).
– There seems to be no difference between diurnal and nocturnal nativities, in terms of this formula.
THE GLYPHS OF THE LUNAR NODES ARE INVERTED!
Abramius’ charts feature inverted symbols of the Lunar Nodes: The North Node is represented by the symbol of our South Node, and vice versa. That’s not a mistake, but a mainstream feature of Byzantine astrology! The interesting thing is that some European horoscopes from the 14th-15th centuries also show inverted lunar node symbols. It would be reasonable to assume that the astrologers who erected those renaissance period horoscopes were somehow influenced by the Byzantine astrology.
ABRAMIUS DOES NOT ADHERE TO A SINGLE “TERMS” SYSTEM
He utilizes both the Ptolemaic and the Egyptian “Terms” system! The “catarchic” of the Andronicus’ entry into Constantinople, for example, has its MC at the 9 th degree of Cancer. According to Abramius, the “Term” of the specific MC is ruled by Jupiter, so he is utilizing a Ptolemaic “Terms” system in this case. However, in the case of Manuel’s proclamation chart (we will examine it further on) he is positing that the “Term” of the Ascendant (17 degrees Sagittarius) is ruled by Venus, so in that case he is utilizing an Egyptian “Terms” system!
HIS CALCULATIONS ARE QUITE ACCURATE
As you may see below:
ABRAMIUS JUDGING THE “CATARCHIC” OF THE ANDRONICUS’ BROTHER CORONATION
It’s worth noting that both Prince Andronicus and his father, the emperor John Palaeologus, belonged to the same (somewhat bellicose) sign of Aries! The two had a big feud, as we know! Therefore, it shouldn’t surprise us the fact that in 1373 John Palaeologus anointed his other son, Manuel, as co-emperor.
Obviously, this did not sit well with Andronicus, who believed the throne belonged to him and not to his rival brother. Therefore, it appears that Andronicus asked Abramius to judge astrologically whether the moment of his brother’s inauguration was favorable.
The description of the horoscope reads:
“Horoscope erected on the occasion of the proclamation (as co-emperor) of Manuel, son of Emperor John Palaeologus, at noon on September 25 of the year 6882.”
You may see below the “transliteration” of this horoscope in English – with the corresponding modern astrology glyphs in it:
And here is its modern, computer plotted, version:
The otherwise accurate Abramius seems to have miscalculated here the position of the Moon by 14 whole degrees – and consequently the Lots of Fortune and Kingship! It is as if he calculated this catarchic for September 24th (and not for September 25th, as he is actually stating).
Here is Abramius’ judgement for this catarchic:
“Jupiter, lord of the sign of the Ascendant, Sagittarius, is in the eighth place. Jupiter, lord of the ascendant, is opposite Saturn, which is in a bad place, the second. Jupiter, lord of the ascendant, and Saturn, lord of the second place, are contrary to each other since they are diametrically opposed. The lord of the house (occupied by the Lot) of fortune, Jupiter, is in the eighth place, which is opposed to the second and both places are bad. Mars, being in the fourth place, indicates that its end will be bad. The lord of the “clime” in which the venture took place, namely Saturn, is opposite to the lord of the ascendant, Jupiter. Mars, being a malefic, is opposite the Sun (in a “vespertine acronycal” state, as Abramius points out).
Mars and Sun are of opposite sect. The Moon applies to Saturn, which is malefic, and they are of opposite sect. The sign of the Midheaven, being tropical, indicates that the duration of the venture is unstable, weak, and volatile. The Ascendant, being bicorporal, indicates that it will last for some time, but not very long. The Moon is applying to Saturn and Saturn is not stationary (actually it was); this indicates that the beginning is unstable. Mars, being a malefic, is opposed to the Midheaven and is aboutto form a quartile with the Ascendant; this indicates that the change will be rapid. Mars is opposed to Venus, which is the lord planet of the Midheaven, and so is very active in this chart.
The Descendant, being an oblique sign, is afflicted by a malefic, Mars, which is in quartile configuration with it. Its lord though, Mercury, holds a good position and indicates that the man is simple and pure. The Moon applies to Saturn, which is malefic, and indicates that his succession will be rapid. The Sun is in a cardinal sign and is afflicted, being opposed to a malefic, Mars, so it indicates brevity. The brevity is due to the fact that the lords of the houses (occupied by the) luminaries, namely Venus and Saturn, are afflicted by malefics, Venus by Mars and Saturn both by itself and by Mars. The lord of the ascendant, Jupiter, is in opposition to the lord of the second place, Saturn; this indicates that the ruler will willingly spend a lot of money. The eleventh place is injured by Saturn, which is configured in trigon to it; this 17 indicates harm to members of his household. The injury of the second place indicates harm to his flock (to his subjects).”
Indeed, Abramius made every effort to show that this “catarchic” is unfit for office—he even enlisted the planetary ruler of the “clime” of Constantinople! It was clear that he wanted to please his powerful master.
Thomas Gazis
Copyright: Thomas D. Gazis
Greek Astrologer 